Marine Life: Marine Ecology

Winter quarter

Major areas of study include marine biology, oceanography, mathematics, statistics, and research design.

Class Standing: Juniors or seniors; transfer students welcome.

Prerequisites: At least two quarters of college chemistry with labs and two quarters of biological sciences with labs, as well as college-level algebra.

Marine Ecology focuses on the biology and ecology of marine organisms. Specific topics of study will include taxonomy of marine plants and animals, ecological physiology, and symbiosis, among others. In addition, the ecology of specific habitats such as coral reefs and deep sea environments will be examined. Lab and field work will include studies of marine biodiversity, invertebrate-algal symbioses, osmoregulation, etc. Data collected in the lab and field will be analyzed using basic descriptive and inferential statistics. During seminar, students will present and discuss studies published in the scientific primary literature. Students will study research design and scientific grant writing as they prepare project proposals for spring quarter.

This program is the second of a three-quarter sequence examining marine life: Biological Oceanography (fall), Marine Ecology (winter) and Research in Marine Science (spring). Qualified students can take these programs in any combination. We recommend that students wishing to pursue advanced work/education in marine science complete all three programs.